The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-04-08
Our Washington Letter
Easn our Regular Correspondent.

Olnce L laSI WTOtc you tlle 1--WE Rtutleibeu
who compose the new Interstate Com
mission arrived in the city talked oyer
Nreliminaries. visited the President, inter-
viewed Secretary Lamar, received their
Commission, took the oath Of office, in
spected their temporary quarters, took po-
session of them, elected their chairman,
and entered upon their new duties.
SO what the country has SO long been
clamoring for is now an accomplished fact.
Ent while the new court will be able to
Eemedy some evils in current transporta-
don methods, it is pretty certain not to do
90 great amount of good as WAS anticipated
from it by all sorts Of reforners who think
that everything can be regulated by law.
The President of the Commission is
Judge Cooley, a Michigan Republican.
His election was predetermined. 1t was
understood by the other members that the
President wanted him to be at the head
ard they acquiesced in his choice withou'
discussion, admitting that the Judge knew
more ABOUT INV dIIu IdilIUdu lHNh
all the others pnt together.
As the board is now made up and organ
7zed, (it consists of three Democrats and
two Republicans, one Of which is chairman)
when it fails to satisfy shippers as it is al
most certain to do--the Democratic House
ean divide the incoming growls with the
Republican Senate, and the Democratic
majority of the Commission can plead that
the work was directed by a Republican
chairman. To appoint majority of Re-
publican on the Commission would have
been shrewd move on the part of the
President, but the next wisest thing was to
give the Republican party the management
Of it and the responsibility attached.
Probably no appointment of President
Cleveland's since the fou1 tn Of March, 1885
has given more general satisfaction than
chat of Mr. Faircbild to be secretsry of the
Treasury. 1t is in the direct line too of
civil service reform-a promotion for real
merit. The new Cabinet officer is very
popular at the Treasury Department as is
also Judge Maynard. the Second Comp
moller, who takes the place of Assistant
gecretary. When their promotions were
authoritatively announced these two official
were overwhelmed with congratulations.
The interest was so great that Mr.. Fair
child was forced to ask all callers to desist
until ceriai n hour, when both gentlemen
gave themselves up to handshaking with
the hundreds of employees of the Depart
aaent.
Mrs. Fairchild, the wife of the new Sec
retay of the Treasury, and the first lady Of
she Cabinet, is quiet cultivated lady, with
retiring and gracious manners, one whom it
will be pleasant to regard as a leader. She
is niece of the late Governor Seymour of
New York, and the family being in mourn
ing have not gone much into society since
they came here. They live in rather a
podest house in the fashionable West End
and Mrs. Fairchild remarked that it was
not until recently that they decided to
keep it, not knowing bat that they
would go out of office with Secretary Man
ming.
Notwithstanding the fact that the marb-
le halls and corridors of the Capitol haye
been deserted by our lawmakers for a
month, the guides about the building are
doirg hourishing business. Visitors
from all parts Of the United States flock
there every day by the hundred. Before
the Fiftieth Congress begins its executive
life the Capitol grounds will present a
much grander appearance than they have
ever before possessed. Great changes for
the better are in progress. The amount ask.
ed for this purpose was $125000, but Con-
gress decided that the present condition of
the Capitol approaches should be remedied
as quickly as possible and doubled the
amount. The $3.50 600 thus placed at the
disposal of the architect will enable him to
have the work entirely completed during
the summer.
Just beyond the beautiful plaza which
stretches Eastward from the Capitol, exca-
vations and preparations are being made for
the erection of the new Congressional Lii
brary, where the largest and most valuable
collection of books in the United States are
to be slowed away
There are over 100000 volumes, and it